Earth working vehicles



March 30, 1965 R. K. REYNOLDS ETAL 3,175,312

EARTH WORKING VEHICLES Filed Jan. 3. 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 m w. m.. w w E HI IBM Marh 30, 1965 R. K. REYNOLDS ETAL 3,175,312

EARTH `WORKING VEHICLES Filed Jan. s. 1961 5 sheets-sheet 2 March 30, 1965 R. K. REYNOLDS ETAI. 3,175,312

EARTH WORKING VEHICLES 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 3, 1961 d ,i lf2/minus @4.1.0. O- W March 30, 1965 R. K. REYNOLDS ETAL 3,175,312

EARTH WORKING VEHI CLES Filed Jan. 5, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 QL? /MOP- Q March 30, 1965 R. K. REYNOLDS ETAL y3,175,312

EARTH WORKING VEHICLES' Y Filed Jan. 3. 1961 5 Sheets-sheet 5 United States Patent (-)fllice lll Patented Mar. 30, 1965 3,175,312 EAR'EH WQRKING VEHH'CLES Ralph K. Reynolds and William J. McKenzie, Des Plaines, lil., assignors to international Harvester Company, Chicago, IIL, a corporation of New .ler'sey Filed Ilan. 3, 1961, Ser. No. 80,449 12 Claims. (Cl. 37-4) This invention relates to improvements in earthworking vehicles and more in particular relates to vehicles performing earth scraping, loading, and dozing operations.

The present vehicle comprises, inter alia, a bowl for scooping a load of material, ground engaging means, a framework supported by the ground engaging means `and supporting the bowl on the forward end of the framework, the bowl comprising a rear wall, a bottom wall, the bottom wall having a forward end, a pair of side walls, and a movable frontal apron pivotally attached to the framework of the vehicle and swingabie in a vertical arcuate path from a lowered bowl closure position in registry with the forward end of the bottom wall to an opened raised load receiving position.

The bowl according to our invention provides a novel scooping action wherein the lbowl operates at the outer edges of the forward end of the bowl bottom by causing scooped material to move Vrearwardly and progress vertically up ramps which are aligned in the direction of movement of the bowl and then directly backward along horizontal ledge panels which are aligned in the direction of movement of the bowl.

It is therefore a general object of the invention that the pair of side walls of the bowl be each provided, within the bowl, with a horizontal, ledge forming guide panel disposed over the ground engaging means and being spaced apart at lall points from the bowl bottom, each panel directing the scooped material rearwardly and `having a ramp sloping forward and downward, the ramp lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to a vertical plane aligned with the direction of movement of the vehicle, the ramp merging at a line with the forward end of the bowl bottom to form a cutting member, the pair of side walls being laterally outward of and joining with the ramps and extending above and forwardly thereof, the walls being substantially parallel to one another and to the direction of movement lof the bowl and the vehicle.

A further object of this invention is to provide a crawler tractor having a front end scraper bowl for filling the tractor witha load and having ejector means for subsequent removal of the load therefrom.

lt is a further object of this invention to provide for a crawler tractor having a scraper bowl and a do-zer element for performing dozing operations in conjunction with earth scraping operations.

Another object of this invention is to provide an earthworking vehicle with a `scraper bowl` and a scraper apron for opening and closing the bowl to a load wherein the outer portion of the apron provides a moldboard or dozer unit for performing dozing operations.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an earthworking vehicle having a scraper bowl, the fore portion of which comprises a movable apron for opening the bowl to a load wherein said apron comprises a forward moldboard or dozer portion, a part of which is swingable into a raised position for adding strength to the apron in a working position thereof.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a vehicle of the earthworking type carrying a bowl member openable at one end for loading with dirt to act as ballast for dozing or load pushing loperation of the vehicle in the closed position of said bowl.

These and other objects will become apparent from reference to the following drawings and description which portray an operable arrangement of our novel device without placing any limitation on the breadth or scope of the appended claims, wherein:

FIGURE l is a side elevational View of the novel implemented earthworking vehicle;

FIC-URE 2 is a front elevational View of the earthworking vehicle with the dozer unit in a lowered position;

FIGURES 3 to 7, are perspective views looking down from various angles at the earthworking vehicle and showing the construction, arrangement, and functional operations of the various implements that are formed with and are `part of the vehicle;

FIGURE 8 is a plan view of the novel implemented earthworking vehicle;

FIGURE 9 is a side elevational view of the vehicle with the front portion partly in section; and

FIGURE l0 is a front elevational View of the vehicle with `the doZer unit in a raised position.

Withreference to co-pending Reynolds disclosures comprising a US. patent application Serial No. 130,237, filed August 7, 1961, and U.S. Patents No. 3,092-,919'and No. 3,104,480, and to the FIGURES l through l0 of the accompanying drawings, there is shown a vehicle 1 `of the crawler tractor type having la body 2 and a plurality of ground traversing members or wheels 3, 4, S and 6 on either (left or right) side 7', 7a of the vehicle 1 driven by sprocket 8, the members on one side of the vehicle being encircled by track 9 and themembers on the other side of the vehicle being encircled by the track l@ and interconnecting linkage 11 on the mechanism 1 between each of the members 3, d, 5 and 6 and the body 2 of the vehicle 1 are so constructed as to allow relative movement between the body o1" frame 2 'and between each wheel 3, 4, 5 and 6 such that the movement of each wheel 3, 4, 5 and 6 is independent or may be made Lindependent of the movement of every other wheel 3', 4, 5 and 6 relative to the body 2J. The body 2 consists` of a rectangular frame work 12 having panel sides 13, 14, a rear sidelS, and-a forwardly disposedmovable side 16 and a bottom or lower portion 17 at thefront part `i8 of the vehicle or tractor 2. The structuralfeatures of this framework will be discussed in greater detail hereafter.

It is to be `noted that such expressions as front end orv Forward ofthe platform 24 is the scraper bowl`25" formed by the forward ends 26, Zfof the side members 13, 14, the forward movable wall or `apron 16, the floor 17 and the for-wardend ofthe platform 24. Reciprocal between the apron 15 and thev platform 24` within the bowl 25 is the movable ejector gate 28 having 'an hydraulically operated ram unit 29 for eiecting loads from the bowl 2S. Sponsons or lejector guide tracks Sil, 31 `flanked each inside and outside portion of the side walls 13,` `14 over which ride inside bowl 25 extensions 32, 33fof` the ejector 28 and have forwardly downwardly extending structures or ramps 34, 35 joining with the forward downward sloping end 36 of the bowl floor 17 to form a scraper bowl cutting edge 37. The inwardly facing vertical side surfaces 38, 39 of the lower side portions 38m,

39d of side walls 13, 14, the depending central portion 40 of the ejector gate 28, the iloor 17, and inside concave surface 41 of the apron 16 form the lower or depressed bowl areaway 42 which at its forward end merges into the scraper cutting edge 37.

The scraper bowl 25 at the front end 18 of the tractor 1 is integral with the body framework or housing 12 so that when the body 2 is moved or tilted relative to the wheels 3, 4, 5 and 6 by the hydraulically operated linkage 11 between the wheels 3, 4, 5 and 6 and the body 2, the scraper edge 37 is also moved or tilted relative to the ground to cut the earth and fill the bowl 25 in accordance with the dictates of the operator. The bowl 25 is so constructed that the sponson-ramp structures 311-34, 31-35 act as fenders to protect the endless tracks 9, from becoming damaged or having their movement interfered with by the earthen load spilling into the bowl as the tractor 1 moves forward in its loading operation when the apron 16 is in the raised position as shown in FIGURES 5 and 10.

The interior of the bowl has a unique construction which takes its form from the sponson-ramp structures -34, 31-35 and the lower leveled ilats 43, 44 of the oor and depressed horizontal surface of the floor 17 running longitudinally of the tractor 1, the iats 43, 44 and depressed surface 45 at their forward ends merging to form the downward sloping bowl floor surface or end 36. The scraper edge surface 36 formed by the sponsonramps 311-34, 31-35, the flats 43, 44 and the depressed surface 45 of the floor 17 all of which merge to form the cutting edge 37 presents a full width scraping edge 37 and the dirt or load entering the bowl 25 simultaneously rises up the slope end 36 of the bowl 25 and the ramps 34, 35, some of the dirt entering the bowl area 42 and the rest of the dirt going on the sponsons 30, 31 and falling off linto the area 42 in a swirling action and the dirt or load is retained therein by lowering the apron 16 to the down position as shown in FIGURES 1 through 4 and 6 through 9.

The apron unit 16 is attached to the front end 18 of the tractor 1 by the pair of extensions or arms 46, 47 on either side of the bowl 25 of the vehicle 1 which extensions 46, 47 at their rearward ends are pivotally connected to hydraulic ram units 48, 49 at pivot pins 50, 51 and to pivot pins 52, 53 on the horizontal ledges 54, 55 that are formed integral with the tractor side members 13, 14, the horizontal ledges 54, 55 extending towards the vertical or upright truss members 56, 57 also integral with the tractor side members 13, 14 and the ram units being attached by pivot pins 58, 59 on the horizontal ledges 54, 55. This type of pivotal connection through operation of the hydraulic ram units 48, 49 permits the scraper apron unit 16 to be swung vertically in an arcuate path around the forward end 18 of the side members 13, 14 about the pivots 52, 53 from a lower position as shown in FIG- URES 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8 and 9 to a raised position as shown in FIGURES 5 and 10. In the lowered position the rearward or inwardly facing concave surface 41 of the apron unit 16 forms a frontal wall or bowl closure for the bowl 25 for holding a load therein and swinging of the apron 16 from the lowered position upwardly permits entrance of a load into the bowl 25 when the tractor 1 is performing scraping operations or the like up to a maximum raised position (see FIGURES 5 and 10) wherein the bowl 25 has its maximum opening. The inside concave faces 60, 61 'of the side anges 62, 63 and the apron 16 have a contour which conforms to and complements the contour of each of the outward facing convex surfaces 64, 65 of the truss elements 56, 57 of side members 13, 14 and the bottom or apron edge 66 'of the frontal wall 16 lies adjacent or next to portions 34a, 35a of the ramps 34, 35 and has extension edge 66a adjacent the sloping portion 36 of the floor 17, the lugs 67, 68 and 69 on the underside or edge 66 of the apron 16 being adjacent the sloping portions 36 of the cutting edge area 37 which extends forwardly beyond the lower cutting edge 66 of the apron unit 16 outside of the bowl unit 25. The weight of the apron 16 actually rests against the downward sloping surfaces 36, 37 of the bowl 25 just rearward of the scaper edge 66 through the lugs or abutments 67, 68 and 69 integral with the lower portion of the apron 16, the central abutment 68 registerable in the slot 70 in the sloping portion 36 and the scraper edge 66a and each of the outer abutments 67, 69 having holes 71, 72 registerable with holes 73, 74 in ears or yoke extensions 75, 76 on the rearward side 77 (when in the dozing position-see FIGURES 1 and 2) of the lower or depending part '73 of the dozer portion 7@ of the apron 16 for holding the depending part 78 fixed to the upper or apron part Si! of the dozer portion 79 of the apron 16 when pins 81 are inserted through the holes 71, '72, '73 and 74 for dozing operation (FIGURES 1 and 2). The dozer apron element 16 is similarly keyed to extensions 53, 84 on the portions 26, 27 of the side members 13, 14 of the frame 12, the extensions 83, 84 having holes 85, 36 registering with holes 87, 8S lon extensions 89, 90 on the outward left and right sides 91, 92 of the depending dozer element 78 with pins 93 fixing the apron to the scraper bowl 25 and consequently when the tractor 1 is moving forward in the dozing position all loads are transmitted to the truss members 56, 57 of side portions 26, Z7 4of the bowl 25 via the dozer depending element 78 through the apron 16 such that the loads are transmitted to the heavy section of the depending part 78 to the side member portions 26, 27 without placing any load on the upper outward facing part 30 of the apron 16 and thus preventing the apron 16 from being pressed against the members 13, 14 avoiding damage to the apron such that the aprons iiange surfaces 62, 63 could bind against the surfaces 60, 61 of the forward ends 26, 27 of the side members 13, 14 preventing relative vertical swinging movement between the apron 16 and the side members 13, 14. Also by so locking the dozer 79 to the truss member 56, 57 of side members 13, 14 a shock load can then be withstood.

The outward facing part of the apron 16 of the scraper unit 25 forms the upper part 78a of the dozer unit 79 and is integral with the scraper apron 16. This upper dozer portion 78a carries a swingable member or lower dozer portion 78 which has arms 94, 95 integral therewith, the ends 96, 97 of the arms 94, 95 being pivotally attached to the outward facing forward section 73a of the apron 16 (i.e. the upper dozer part) intermediate its upper and lower ends thereof at pivots 98, 99 for vertically swingable movement from a lowered or dozing position wherein the dozer blade edge 166 is directed as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 to a raised position as shown in FIGURES 3 through 5 and 7 through 10 wherein the outwardly extending dozer blade edge 100 may be locked against the outward facing upper portion 80 of the apron unit 16 by catches 161, 102 attached to the top side of the apron 16. The dozer blade portion 78 may be swung from its lowered position to its raised position by cable 104 attached to the middle portion of the dozer edge and the central portion of the forward facing surface of the ejector gate 28, the cable 104 causing movement of the dozer blade portion 73 in accordance with the movement of the ejector gate 2S. The dozer portion 78 in its lowered position may be locked as previously mentioned to the apron 16 and in the lowered position of the apron 16 to the side members 13, 14. It will be noticed that the depending portion or lower dozer part 78 of the apron 16 has an outwardly concave surface 107 which when placed in a lowered position forms one continuous concave surface 168 with the outer facing concave surface 109 of the outward upward portion 73a of the apron unit 16 thus forming a moldboard or dozing surface. The concave surface 168 of the dozer unit 79 it will be noted includes the extensions 80a, Sb of the upper dozer portion 78a and the extensions 81a, 81h of the lower dozer portion 78, said extensions 86a, Seb, 81a, lb resulting in the concave dozer surface 163 to extend beyond the tractor width for greater dozing action on external loads.

Scarifying teeth 11i), 111 are swingably depending from the backside of the lower dozer portion 7 S and are positionable to cut or scarify the ground as the tractor 1 moves in a reversed position in a conventional manner and when the tractor 1 is going in a forward position with the apron 16 and the dozer portion 73 locked to the tractor side members 13, 1d in the lowered position, the dozer edge 10i) can scrape the ground surface bringing the dirt up against the concave surface 108 of the dozer or moldboard unit 79 in conventional fashion. the depending dozer portion '78 is raised so that its concave surface 107 lies up against the upper outside forwardly facing surface or upper dozer portion 1%9 of the apron unit 16 in its locked position, the apron 16 now being duly strengthened by the thickness of the dozer portion 73 and the thick portion 7&1 of the apron unit 1%, is capable of knocking over objects such as trees and the like and the apron unit 1o may be vertically swingable in reciprocating hammer-like fashion `attendant to knocking over such objects.

Another pair of scarifying teeth 112, 113 depend from the underside 114 of the tractor in such fashion that when the tractor 1 is going rearward the scarifying teeth 112, 113 are extended having their edges scarifying the ground in conjunction with the scarifying teeth 111i, 111 on the depending dozer parts 78.

The ejector gate 28 has the pair of rearwardly extending elements 32, 33 carrying horizontal rollers 117, 11S at their rearward end for riding against the inward facing surfaces 121, 122 of the side members 13, 14 and a pair of vertically disposed rollers 123, 124 riding against the undersides of the inwardly projecting top ledges 127, 128 of the side members 13, 14 and a second pair of vertically disposed rollers 125 riding on sponsons Btl, E1 the rollers 117, 11d, 125, 12d, 125 acting to guide and stabilize the movement of the ejector gate 2d when in motion.

In the scraper operation for tilting of the bowl with a load, the depending part 78 of the dozer 79 is raised toward its locked upper position by the cable 1114 (see FIGURE 6) to permit the lower dozer portion '73 with the dozer 79 to be clear of the path of the scraper edge 37 and bowl 25 by theretraction of the ejector gate 28 inwardly within the bowl 25 toward the rear of thetractor 1, final movement of the ejector 28 terminating when it is against the back of the bowl 25 and the depending part 78 of the dozer -79 is in the fully raised position with the dozer part 78 held against the front side 80 of the apron 1 at which time the hooks 161, 102 are then placed over the cutting edge 1d@ of the dozer depending part 78. Then the apron 16 is gradually opened and swung upward permittingthe dirt cut by the scraper edge 37 to enter the bowl 25 and when sufficient load is placed within the bowl 25 the apron 16 may be lowered against the slope portions 34a, 35a such that the apron door 16 has its edge 37 flush against the sloping surface 34a, 35a.

For dozing operations the apron 16 is placed in the downward or closed position as seen in FIGURES l and 2 with the bowl 25 filled with a load or empty. If the bowl 25 is filled with a load,the load acts as ballast and gives the tractor 1 a greater capacity for pushing or dozing objects or dirt in its path, If the bowl is empty and the depending part 78 of the dozer 79 isin the raised position the cable 104 may be connected to the dezer blade 100` and the ejector gate 28 as previously mentioned, and the ejector 28 moves from the rearward to the forward direction lowering the depending part 71S to the down position, as shown in FIGURES l, 2 and 6 such that the dozer cutting edge 101i is in front of and below the scraper cutting edge 37 to perform moldboarding or dozing of the work in front of the tractor 1.

When

If the scraper bowl 25 is lled with a load such that the ejector gate 28 cannot move forward the catches 101, 102 can be unlatched and the depending blade portion 73 of a dozer 79 may be allowed to fall in the dozing position so as to present in combination with the upper moldboard surface gti a complete dozer blade and moldboard surface 1% exposed to the load in a manner as accomplished when lowered by the cable 194.

The design of this tractor not only permits its scraper element 25 to scrape the full width of the tractor but the sponson-ramp portions 311-34, 31-35 in combination with the bed 17 of the bowl 25 permit the entire forward portion 18 of the tractor 1 to act as a load storing bowl and yet to protect the endless tracks 9, 11i from being damaged by the load entering the bowl 25. Also when the bowl 25 is filled with material it increases the load working capacity of the tractor 1. Furthermore the forward wall or apron 1o of the tractor 1 serves to enclose the bowl 25 and aid the bowl 25 in being filled by gradual adjustment of the apron opening, The outward facing part titi of the apron member 1n serves as a dozer blade 79 for pushing loads when the bowl 2S is closed, the dezer 79 being placed in the out-of-nse position when the operator wishes to perform a scraping operation or unload the bowl 25 by ejecting the load with the ejector gate 25 which can raise and lower the dozer blade portion 78 into out-of-use positions. The dezer-apron structure 1d also may be used to strike at loads such as knocking over trees and the like.

Considering the strength characteristics of the framework of the tractor in greater detail it will be noted, as previously mentioned, that each side member 7, 7a comprises a substantially vertical panel 13 or 11i which at its forward end vertically broadens into the truss element 56 or 57 in the form of an enlarged track covering structure and which includes as a means of reinforcement a truss embossment on its exterior side. The truss embossment 131i has a forwardly bowed compression member 131 which at its upper and lower ends merges into the upper and lower extremities of the forwardly diverging truss struts 132, 133 of the tension member 13d of the embossment 130, the rear or inner end of the truss struts 132, 133 merging into a substantially horizontal column member 135 intermediate its ends, the forward end of the column member 135 being integrated with the back edge of the compression member 131 at a point substantially medial thereof, the column member 135 extending rearwardly from the apex 136 of the truss embossmcnt 139 over the sponsort-ramp or fender structure 30-34 or 31-35 which projects laterally and outwardly of theside member 13 or 14.. The rear end of the column 135 extends into the forward end of the fore and aft extending box section main beam or horizontal ledge 54 or 55 which forms an edge 137 of the side member 13 or 14, the beam 5ft or 5S growing wider rearwardly and merging on its top side with the upright gusset column 13S and at its rear end with the upright gusset column 139. The lower end of the gusset 138 provides a pivotal connection by means of the pin 52 or S3 for the lower' rear corner of the extension or boom 46 or 47 which is substantially quadriangularly shaped in side elevation and has a pivotal connection at its upper rear corner by the pin Sil or S1 to one end of the ram 18 -or 49 extending diagonally downwardly and rearwardly and having a rear end as by the pin 55 or 59 to the ear structure 59a which is forward in a corner which develops between the main beam 54 or 55 and the gusset post 13S. The side wall front end portion is also provided with a vertical stitfening rib 139 which extends from the apex 13o of the truss structure 56 or 57 to the upper edge 127 or 12S of the side 7 or '7a.

The forward end of the boom 46 or i7 merges with the guide and positioning plate or apron side franges 62 or 63 forward on the adjacent lateral edge of the combination dozer apron unit 16, the rear edge ofthe plate 62 or 63 being provided with the wear rail or inside concave face 6b or 6l which could be subjected to sufficient deflection and may react against the forward edge or convex surface @Il or e5 of the compression member ffii. However, any load against the outward side of the dezer apron unit 16 is transmitted to the locking extensions 67, 69 and 75, '7o of the upper part S@ of the apron 16 and the dozer depending portion 7S, respectively to the extensions S9, 9i? of the depending part 78 through to extensions S3, 84 integral with and depending from the truss embossment 13@ which serves to take up the brunt of the load. Also external loads against the outward side of the apron lo are transmitted through the boom 4d or i7 to the side f3 or 14 of the vehicle l before deflection of the wear rail 6i) or 6l can occur.

Having described a novel earthworking vehicle having novel implement means to perform the operations discussed above, the appended claims follow, therefore what is claimed is:

l. In a front end loading vehicle having a plurality of ground supported elements and a framework, a bowl portion formed at the front end of the framework and having a forward open end, a front wall structure comprising an apron member' substantially vertically swingable in an arcuate path in closing and opening relation to said open end of the bowl, the apron member having a rearward portion and having a forward dozer portion including a dozer part swingably connected to the dozer portion, said dezer part having a lowered position projecting below the rearward portion for dozing while supported by the dozer portion and having an elevated position folded against the dozer portion.

2. An earthworking vehicle carrying a load receptacle having a pair of sides and a lioor including a scraper element having a leading cutting edge and forming an entrance, a movable frontal member carried by the side elements and vertically svvingable for opening and closing the entrance, said member having an inwardly facing load retaining portion positionable to form a closure with the sides and the scraper element in back of the cutting edge and an outwardly facing load engaging portion for acting on loads external to the vehicle, said outwardly facing portion comprising an upper part and a lower part pivotally supported from the upper part and defining therewith a moldboard surface, said lower part being swingable in position before the cutting edge of the floor and in position exposing the cutting edge in the bowl closed position of the frontal member.

3. A vehicle comprising a unitary body having a bowl portion with a floor and front wall portion, a load ejecting gate reciprocal Within the bowl along the longitudinal axis of the tractor, the front wall portion comprising an apron swingable vertically about a transverse axis of the vehicle and the floor having a forward cutting edge portion and forming a closure with the apron in its lowered position, and said apron having a forward facing upper portion and a lower portion pivotally connected to and depending from the forward facing portion, the lower portion defining with the forward facing portion a dozer blade having a moldboard operating position, and means operatively connecting the dozer portion to the gate for movement of the dozer portion to the moldboard position in accordance with movement of the gate.

4. A vehicle comprising a framework having a bowl portion at one end thereof and ground traversing means supporting the framework, said bowl portion comprising load retaining floor with a downwardly forwardly sloping cutting element at the outward end thereof and having a pivotally mounted apron swingable away from the cutting element exposing the element for working and swingable toward the element in bowl closing relation therewith, and a load pushing element pivotally mounted outwardly on the apron and movable into obstructing relation with respect to the cutting element, the bowl having a pair of side Walls one of each of the side walls being :fa-sia disposed on opposite sides of the vehicle and on the outer sides of the ground traversing means, said side walls having, in inwardly spaced disposition within the bowl, ramp and guide structures shroudingly disposed over the ground traversing means, said structures comprising guide panels and forwardly downwardly sloping ramps connecting with the panels and lying generally in a plane merging at a line with the cutting element so as to cooperate therewith in presenting a full width cutting edge between the outsides of :the ground traversing means.

5. A vehicle having a pair of ground traversing members and a bowl carrying an apron having a pair of side walls and floor presenting an edge at the forward end of the vehicle, each side wall having an inside bowl structure having a horizontal ledge forming panel shrouding a respective ground traversing member and a ramp shrouding a respective ground traversing member and operatively associated with a respective ledge forming panel to form a load-receiving structure and sloping forwardly and downwardly toward the apron, and each of said ramps at their forward ends being generally in a plane generally merging at a line with said edge, said apron being pivotally connected to the sides for vertical swinging movement from bowl open to bowl close positions, said apron having an inwardly facing side juxtaposed with the side walls of the vehicle to form a closure with the floor in the bowl close position, and an outwardly facing moldboard portion, said moldboard portion having a dozer part pivotally connected thereto and being movable to a downward moldboarding position and to an upward scraper position in the bowl open position of the apron.

6. A scraper vehicle comprising a unitary bowl having a front structure, side walis, and a bottom loadsustnining Hoor, each side wall having an inside bowl structure having a horizontal guide panel and a ramp joining the guide panel and sloping forwardly and downwardly toward said front structure, the plane of said ramp being generally perpendicular to a vertical plane containing the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, a material ejecting gate within the bowl extending between the side walls and reciprocable along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and forming a load receptacle with the front structure, floor, and said side walls, the front structure comprising an apron swingable vertically about a transverse axis of the vehicle, said floor having a forward material scooping edge portion forming a closure with the apron in its lowered position, said guide panels guiding said gate in its reciprocation during a material ejecting operation, and each guiding scooped material rearwardly in the bowl from a ramp during a scraping operation, said ramp delivering scooped material upwardly to the panel and merging generally at a line with said edge portion, each of said side walls having a load retaining and entrant wall surface in the bowl, said wall surface joining with said ramp and disposed laterally outward thereof and extending a substantial distance forwardly from and above said ramp, the wall surfaces being upright and substantially parallel to one another and to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

7. A load carrier comprising a bowl defined by a floor having a bowl edge, a pair of side walls, and front and `rear portions, each of said side walls having a ledgeforming panel and a ramp connected thereto, said ramp having a forward facing surface of which the plane of the surface is generally perpendicular to a vertical :reference plane aligned in the direction of travel of the carrier, the surface of said ramp sloping downward and merging substantially at a line with the bowl edge, said ledgeforming panels being spaced apart at all points a substantial distance above said bowl floor, and an ejector supported at least in part by the ledge-forming panels and reciprocable thereon between the front and rear port-ions, each of said side walls having a load retaining and entrant wall surface in the bowl, said wall surface being laterally outward 0f and joining with the ramp, and extending a substantial distance above and forwardly of the forward facing surface of the ramp, the wall surfaces being upright and substantially parallel to one another and to the direction of travel of the carrier.

8. A vehicle carrying a bowl and supported by a pair of ground traversing means, said bowl comprising a back wall, a floor, and a pair of side walls which extend forwardly of and above each of the respective ground traversing means, each of said side walls having a ledge panel shroudingly disposed over a respective ground engaging means and effective to direct scooped material directly backward in the direction of travel of the vehicle, said ledge panels each having -a ramp at the forward end lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to a vertical plane aligned with the direction of travel of the vehicle, said ramps sloping forwardly and downwardly and forming with the floor a frontal scooping edge extending the full width of the vehicle, each of said side walls having a load retaining wall surface in the bowl, said wall surface being disposed laterally outward of and joining with the ramps for causing scooped material on the ramps to move directly rearwardly and Vprogress vertically up in the direction of travel of the vehicle, said wall surfaces being upright and substantially parallel to one another and to said direction of travel.

9. A vehicle carrying a bowl and `supported by a pair of ground traversing means, said bowl comprising front and rear portions, a floor, and a pair of side walls extending a substantial distance forwardly of and above each of a respective ground traversing means, said side walls having respective horizontal ledge panels each shroudingly disposed over a different one of the ground engaging means and including a ramp forming a continuation of the floor, said ramp lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to a vertical plane aligned with the direction of travel of the vehicle and sloping forwardly and downwardly and forming with the fioor a frontal `cutting edge extending the full width of the vehicle, said horizontal ledge panels being spaced apart at all points a substantial distance above the bowl floor, and load ejecting means supported by and movable over the horizontal ledge panels and reciprocable between said front and rear portions for receiving loads and for unloading the bowl, each of said side walls having a load retaining wall surface in the bowl, said wall surfaces being laterally outward of and joining with the ledge panels and ramps, said wall surfaces being upright and extending substantially parallel to one another and to the direction of travel of the vehicle.

10. A vehicle comprising a framework supported by ground engaging means, a self-loading bowl for scooping material disposed on the forward end of the framework and comprising bottom and rear walls, a pair of side walls, and a movable frontal wall pivotally attached to the vehicle and swingable in a vertical arcuate path from a lowered bowl closure position in registry with the bottom wall to an opened raised load receiving position, said bottom wall having a forward end, the side walls each includ-ing, within the bowl, a horizontal ledge-forming guide panel over the ground engaging means and being spaced apart at all points from said bottom wall, each panel directing scooped material rearwardly in the direction of travel `of the vehicle and having -a ramp sloping forward and downward, said ramp lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to a vertical plane aligned with said direction of travel, said ramp merging at a line with the forward end of the bowl bottom wall forming a cutting member, each of said side walls having an upright, load retaining wall surface in the bowl, said wall surfaces being laterally outward of and joining with the ramps and eX- tending thereabove and forwardly thereof, said wall surfaces being substantially parallel to one another and t0 said direction of travel.

l1. A load carrier bowl for a veh-icle and having a forward and aft extending axis disposed in the direction of travel of the carrier bowl, said bowl comprising a pair of side walls, a `front Wall, a rear wall, and a floor, each of said side walls having, in inwardly spaced relation within the bowl, a ledge-forming panel generally perpendicular to the side wall, and a ramp sloping downward in a plane which is perpendicular to a vertical plane aligned in the direction of travel of the carrier bowl and having a line intersection with the floor, a load ejector gate movable upon and guided by the ledge-forming panels between the front wall and the rear wall, said front. wall comprising a movable apron swingable about a horizontal axis to a removed position out of the load ejecting path of the ejector gate, each of said side walls having la load retaining and entrant wall surface in the bowl, said wall surface joining with the ramp and being laterally outward thereof and extending for `a substantial distance forwardly of and above said ramp, the wall surfaces being upright and substantially parallel to one another and. to said direction of travel.

12. A vehicle having a pair of ground traversing means, and comprising a load carrying bowl having a pair of side walls and a floor having an outer cutting end portion, said side walls each having a longitudinally extending wall surface inside the bowl and having an inside bowl structure disposed above a respective one of the ground traversing means and transverse to and joining with the side wall, each structure having a guide panel having a load bearing surface spaced apart at all points above the bowl floor and a downwardly sloping ramp having an outwardly facing load receiving surface merging at a line with the cutting end portion, the plane of said ramp being perpendicular toa vertical plane aligned in the direction of travel of the vehicle, each structure having a generally upright load retaining surface transverse to the guide panel and ramp, said surface disposed generally in said direction of travel `and extending from the guide panel and the ramp to the floor, each wall surface being laterally outward of a respective structure, and extending above and forwardly from the ramp and guide panel.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,340,247 Petersen May 18, y1920` y2,203,616 Gurries June 4, 1940 `2,249,356 Goodman July 15, 1941 12,312,390 Cordes Mar. 2, '1943 2,330,113 Daniels Sept. 21, 1943 2,769,256 Ose Nov. 6, l1956 2,795,872 Wardle June 18, 1957 '2,841,894 Valois July 8, 1958 2,927,385 `Blomquist Mar. 8, v1960 3,038,265 Hunger et al June 12, 1962 

1. IN A FRONT LOADING VEHICLE HAVING A PLURALITY OF GROUND SUPPORTED ELEMENTS AND A FRAMEWORK, A BOWL PORTION FORMED AT THE FRONT END OF THE FRAMEWORK AND HAVING A FORWARD OPEN END, A FRONT WALL STRUCTURE COMPRISING AN APRON MEMBER SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICALLY SWINGABLE IN AN ARCUATE PATH IN CLOSING AND OPENING RELATION TO SAID OPEN END OF THE BOWL, THE APRON MEMBER HAVING A REARWARD PORTION AND HAVING A FORWARD DOZER PORTION INCLUDING A DOZER PART SWINGABLY CONNECTED TO THE DOZER PORTION, SAID DOZER PART HAVING A LOWERED POSITION PROJECTING BELOW THE REARWARD PORTION FOR DOZING WHILE SUPPORTED BY THE DOZER PORTION AND HAVING AN ELEVATED POSITION FOLDED AGAINST THE DOZER PORTION.
 7. A LOAD CARRIER COMPRISING A BOWL DEFINED BY A FLOOR HAVING A BOWL EDGE, A PAIR OF SIDE WALLS, AND FRONT AND REAR PORTIONS, EACH OF SAID SIDE WALLS HAVING A LEDGEFORMING PANEL AND RAMP CONNECTED THERETO, SAID RAMP HAVING A FORWARD FACING SURFACE OF WHICH THE PLANE OF THE SURFACE IS GENERALLY PERPENDICULAR TO A VERTICAL REFERENCE PLANE ALINGED IN THE DIRECTION OF TRAVEL OF THE CARRIER, THE SURFACE OF SAID RAMP SLOPING DOWNWARD AND MERGING SUBSTANTIALLY AT A LINE WITH THE BOWL EDGE, SAID LEDGEFORMING PANELS BEING SPACED APART AT ALL POINTS A SUBSTANTIAL DISTANCE ABOVE SAID BOWL FLOOR, AND AN EJECTOR SUPPORTED AT LEAST IN PART BY THE LEDGE-FORMING PANELS AND RECIPROCABLE THEREON BETWEEN THE FRONT GEAR PORTIONS, EACH OF SAID SIDE WALLS HAVING A LOAD RETAINING AND ENTRANT WALL SURFACE IN THE BOWL, SAID WALL SURFACE BEING LATERALLY OUTWARD OF AND JOINING WITH THE RAMP, AND EXTENDING A SUBSTANTIAL DISTANCE ABOVE AND FORWARDLY OF THE FORWARD FACING SURFACE OF THE RAMP, THE WALL SURFACES BEING UPRIGHT AND SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO ONE ANOTHER AND TO THE DIRECTION OF TRAVEL OF THE CARRIER. 